By Garin Turner
The No. 6 Oregon Ducks will step into their toughest challenge of the season on Saturday night when they face No. 3 Penn State in a battle of unbeatens at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. EST and the game will air on NBC and stream on Peacock. Oregon enters the matchup at 4-0, while Penn State stands at 3-0.
Ducks’ dominant start
Through four weeks, Oregon has overwhelmed its opponents. The Ducks opened with a 59-13 rout of Montana State, then followed with a 69-3 blowout against Oklahoma State. In Big Ten play, they handled Northwestern 34-14 and rolled past in-state rival Oregon State 41-7.
Quarterback Dante Moore has led the way with poise and efficiency. The sophomore has completed nearly 75 percent of his passes for 962 yards, throwing 11 touchdowns to just one interception.
The backfield has been equally effective. Jayden Limar has 215 rushing yards on 32 carries with three scores. Dierre Hill Jr. has added 188 yards and two touchdowns on just 16 carries, while freshman Jordon Davison leads the team with five rushing touchdowns.
In the passing game, Moore has spread the ball around. Kenyon Sadiq and Gary Bryant Jr. have each caught three touchdowns, while Dakorien Moore and Malik Benson have added two apiece.
Defensively, Bryce Boettcher has been the anchor with 27 tackles. Teitum Tuioti has chipped in 18 stops and 1.5 sacks for a unit that has kept opponents out of rhythm all season.
What’s at stake
For Oregon, this matchup provides a chance to prove legitimacy on the national stage. A win in front of a “White Out” crowd at Beaver Stadium could vault the Ducks into the top two in the next AP poll. A loss would not knock them out of contention, but it would raise questions about how they match up with other national title hopefuls.
Penn State, meanwhile, has been searching for a breakthrough win against a marquee opponent. Saturday provides that opportunity.
Prediction
The atmosphere will test Oregon like nothing else so far this season. Still, Moore’s efficiency and the Ducks’ balance on offense could be the difference in a close game.
Prediction: Oregon 21, Penn State 17.
